This briefing explores what announcements the government could make in the King’s Speech on 13 May 2026 about foreign affairs.
Research briefing: 'King's Speech 2026: Foreign affairs' (329KB PDF)
Approximate read time: 10 minutes
The government intends to introduce a bill in the new session as part of ongoing UK-EU reset negotiations. The bill is expected to provide a mechanism for the UK to ‘dynamically align’ with EU law in sectors such as food standards, carbon emissions trading and electricity trading. A ‘common understanding’ document agreed at the UK-EU summit held in May 2025 stated any such alignment mechanism would give due regard to the UK’s constitutional and parliamentary procedures. The proposals for the UK to dynamically align with EU law in these and other areas have been controversial with those who campaigned for Brexit.
The government has also undertaken to legislate to introduce a proscription-like power, equivalent to proscription for non-state groups under the Terrorism Act 2000, which could be used against state-aligned groups such as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This follows recommendations from Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, made following an independent review into appropriate tools to address state-based security threats.
The government did not proceed with ping pong on the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill in the 2024–26 session. It cited a lack of agreement between the UK and US at a political level on the UK-Mauritius agreement on the Chagos archipelago as the reason for not progressing the legislation during its final stages. The government will need to reintroduce a version of the bill should the US position change to allow for UK ratification of the UK-Mauritius treaty in the future.
This briefing has been prepared to assist members of the House of Lords in the debates on the King’s Speech. It draws on material from the public domain and does not constitute official information about the government’s intentions or provide a complete list of bills to be announced.
Research briefing: 'King's Speech 2026: Foreign affairs' (329KB PDF)
The UK is a signatory to the convention establishing an international claims commission for Ukraine. The commission would assess claims for compensation for damage and losses caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The House of Lords International Agreements Committee has broadly welcomed the convention, but also raised concerns about the scope and efficacy of the commission.
In January 2026, the government announced a new scheme to support urgent repairs and essential improvements to listed places of worship. Called the ‘Places of worship renewal fund for England’, it replaced the ‘Listed places of worship grant scheme’ which had run since 2001. This briefing provides an overview of both schemes, the government’s reasoning for the change and the reaction of stakeholders.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as ME or chronic fatigue syndrome, is a long-term health condition that is estimated to affect over 400,000 people in the UK. It is a fluctuating condition with symptoms including fatigue, sleep problems and brain fog. In 2025 the government published its final delivery plan on ME, which aimed to improve care and support for those with the condition.
